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Hurricane Gustav Shortens RNC's Day One
Today, we visited our work site at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, MN, where we will be stationed for the Republican National Convention. We went to the floor where media and convention staff were setting the stage for the four-day convention, which begins Monday, and visited Radio Row and other media quarters as we made our way to the set for Tavis' television and radio shows.
The mood of this convention is different from the Democratic National Convention as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the Gulf Coast. (Click here to post or get information on Hurricane Gustav).
I spoke to a few delegates today who were concerned about their schedules for the week. One delegate, Ashley Barbera, says that rumors were flying this afternoon when she arrived that the entire convention had been canceled. She later found that was not the case.
So far, the RNC has shortened its Day One schedule and will run from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT, with President Bush and Vice President Cheney canceling their speeches to remain in Texas to meet with workers and evacuees.
Additionally, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has bowed out of his primetime speech Monday because of the budget stalemate in Sacramento.
The schedule for the rest of the week is tentative at this point and will be reassessed as the Category 3 storm meets land.
We will forge ahead talking to first-time delegates, College Republicans and attending a couple of protests this week. But Hurricane Gustav and its impact will inevitably color the experience for all involved--including us.